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Seed development in Pisum

The lh i allele reduces gibberellin levels in developing seeds, and increases seed abortion

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Abstract

The Ih and lh i alleles have been shown previously to reduce the level of endogenous gibberellin A1 (GA1) in shoots of pea (Pisum sativum L.), resulting in a dwarf phenotype compared with the wild type, cv. Torsdag (Lh). In addition, plants homozygous for the lh i allele have reduced seed yield compared with Lh (tall, wild type) and lh (dwarf) plants. In this paper we show that the lh i mutation is expressed in developing seeds and pods. Comparison of GA levels in young shoots and developing seeds of genotypes lh and lh i demonstrates that the relative severity of the two mutations varies in different tissues. Homozygous h i seeds have reduced GA levels, weigh less, and are less likely to develop to maturity when compared with Lh seeds. However, fertilization of lh i plants with Lh pollen increases seed GA levels, seed weight and seed survival, indicating that an increase in seed GA levels due to the presence of the Lh allele can restore normal seed growth. Pods developing on self-pollinated lh i plants are shorter than pods on Lh (wild type) plants, although this may be an indirect effect of the increased seed abortion of lh i plants. Based on these results we suggest that endogenous GAs play an important role in the development of seeds of P. sativum L.

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Abbreviations

GA(n) :

gibberellin An

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Plant Science, University of Tasmania, G.P.O. Box 252C, 7001, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

    Stephen M. Swain, James B. Reid & John J. Ross

Authors
  1. Stephen M. Swain
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  2. James B. Reid
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  3. John J. Ross
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Additional information

We wish to thank Katherine McPherson, Peter Newman, Leigh Johnson and Peter Bobbi for technical assistance, Professor L. Mander (ANU, Canberra) and Professor B.O. Phinney (UCLA, USA) for labelled GA standards, and the Australian Research Council for financial support.

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Swain, S.M., Reid, J.B. & Ross, J.J. Seed development in Pisum . Planta 191, 482–488 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00195749

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